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7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
1/14
US006054643A
Ulllted
States Patent
[ 1 9 ] [ 1 1 ] P a t e n t N u m b e r : 6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
Chance e t
a l . [ 4 5 ]
D a t e o f P a t e n t : A p r . 2 5 , 2 0 0 0
[ 5 4 ] GUITAR PICK
WITH
GRIPPING MEANS 4 , 8 4 3 , 9 4 2 7 / 1 9 8 9 I s h i Z u k a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 3 2 2
5,271,308 12/1993 Balog
. . . . .
. .
84/322
[ 7 5 ]
I n v e n t o r s :
A l l e n
Chance,
M a r i n a D e l R e y ;
5 , 3 0 7 , 7 2 2 5 / 1 9 9 4
L a
R o s a 8 4 / 3 2 2
William
T _
Gray, Topanga,
both
of
5 , 3 4 1 , 7 1 5 8 / 1 9 9 4
Hucek
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 4 / 3 2 2
Calif~
5,419,228
5/1995
Garrett e t
a l .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84/322
5,483,859 1/1996
Singer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 84/322
[ 7 3 ]
A s s i g n e e : B i g R o c k
E n g i n e e r i n g T o p a n g a
C a l i f
5 : 2 1 0 : 3 4 ;
3 / 1 9 9 7 P 1 3 0 1 5 2 1 3 ?
e t
a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 3 2 2
5,837,913
11/1998 Newman
. .
84/329
[21] Appl. No.: 09/166,035 _ _ _ _
P r i m a r y ExamtnerBrlan
S l r c u s
[ 2 2 ] F i l e d : O c t . 5 , 1 9 9 8 A s s i s t a n t
ExaminerMarlon
T . F l e t c h e r
A t t o r n e y , A g e n t ,
o r F i r m S i t r i c k i t r i c k
R e l a t e d US. A p p l i c a t i o n Data
[ 6 0 ] P r o v i s i o n a l a p p l i c a t i o n N o . 6 0 / 0 6 1 , 2 7 7 , O c t . 7 ,
1 9 9 7 .
[ 5 7 ] ABSTRACT
[ 5 1 ] I n t .
C l . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G10D / 1 6 An
rgonomic
m u s i c i a n s p i c k o r p i c k h o l d e r f o r u s e W i t h
[ 5 2 ] US. C l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 4 / 3 2 2 ; 8 4 / 3 1 5 ; 8 4 / 3 2 0 ;
s t r i n g i n s t r u m e n t s , s u c h a s a
g u i t a r ,
m a n d o l i n , b a s s
g u i t a r ,
o r
8 4 / 3 2 1
u k e l e l e , h a s
a c u r v e d ? n g e r
g r i p p o r t i o n
o n o n e s i d e a d a p t e d
[ 5 8 ]
F i e l d o f Search
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 4 / 3 1 5 , 3 2 0 , 3 2 1 , t o form
a ?nger
C r a d l e
f o r e i t h e r
t h e
thumb
9 r i n d e X ?nger
8 4 / 3 2 2 , 329 o f a u s e r
and
has a ? a t g e n e r a l l y p l a n a r
a r e a on
a n o t h e r s i d e
a g a i n s t
Which
t h e o t h e r ? n g e r s o f a u s e r may b e p r e s s e d t o
[ 5 6 ]
R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d
a l l o W t h e u s e r
t o
s e c u r e l y
a n d c o m f o r t a b l y g r a s p
t h e
p i c k
f o r
p l a y i n g . T h e g r i p
p o r t i o n p o s i t i v e l y l o c a t e s
t h e
? n g e r s i n a
US' PATENT
DOCUMENTS
g e n e r a l l y
p r e d e t e r m i n e d
a n g u l a r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h e
s t r i n g
D .
2 5 7 , 1 5 1
9 / 1 9 8 0
B u r k e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
D 1 7 / 2 0 engaging P i c k
t i P - D i f f e r e n t
i n d i v i d u a l
P i c k s
O f t h e i n v e n t i o n
11
2607529 9/1981 P e a r s e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13 17/20 mayhave
d i f f e r e n t
angular relationship s. The pick functions
D .
3 1 0 , 2 3 3
8 / 1 9 9 0 F a r n e l l , J r . D 1 7 / 2 0
i n t h e
same Way
t o b r i n g t h e
same
a d v a n t a g e s o f t h e
B17,171 5/1991 Saks - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- D17/20 invention
to any
conventional
and some
non standard or
1 1 3 3 6 7 1 0 2
6 / 1 9 9 3
H o d e s h D 1 7 / 2 0 custom p i c k s . Holder
p r o v i d e s
t h e added a d v a n t a g e t h a t
B 5 6 , 5 9 3 3 / 1 9 9 5 P u r c e l l 1 3 1 7 / 2 0
v a r i o u s
p i c k s may b e u s e d a n d t h e
a n g u l a r
r e l a t i o n s h i p may
D .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . D17/20 be more
e a s i l y
Varied through Various
arrangements
f o r
1
O O 9 4 O 3
1 9 1 1
G : y n ; r
a t t a c h i n g
t h e
p i c k
t o
t h e h o l d e r .
T h e
s i m p l i c i t y
o f ' c o n s t r u c
1 : 1 8 4 : 5 6 1
5 / 1 9 16 N a p o l e t a n o _
t l o n
alloWs
use of
v a r i o u s m a t e r i a l s
i n
v a r i o u s t h i c k n e s s e s ,
1 7 5 7 3 7 9 1 2 2 / 1 9 2 6 B u r d w i s e
_
s i Z e s ,
and
h a r d n e s s e s ,
and
m a t e r i a l s t o s a t i s f y
a Wide
r a n g e
2 , 1 7 0 , 1 7 9
8 / 1 9 3 9
W o l c o t t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8 4 / 3 2 2
o f
p l a y i n g
C o n d i t i o n s
and
p r e f e r e n c e s The p i c k
and
h o l d e r
3 , 4 4 2 , 1 6 9 5 / 1 9 6 9 Bowers
have a
f o l d e d
con?guration Which i s e f ? c i e n t l y manufac
3 , 7 3 5 , 6 6 3
5 / 1 9 7 3
C o W e l l ,
S r . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 3 2 2 t n r e d
and allows convenient
s t o r a g e
on t h e instrument
s t r a p
3 , 7 8 9 , 7 2 0 2 / 1 9 7 4 M c I n t y r e ~ ~
o r
s t i n g s .
The
ergonomic g r i p
d e s i g n
a l l o W s a
more
r e l a x e d ,
4 7 0 2 0 7 7 3 2
5 / 1 9 7 7 K e l l y
" " " "
" and
loW p r e s s u r e g r i p Which i s l e s s
l i k e l y t o
c a u s e
p h y s i c a l
5 1 2 E 1 1 6 ? " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " " p r o b l e m s s u c h a s c a r pa l t u n n e l
syndrome
a n d
arm
a n d back
4 : 3 4 7 : 7 7 3 9 / 1 9 8 2 Zook
Pam
4 , 4 9 7 , 2 3 7 2 / 1 9 8 5
B e a l l
, 6 9 1 , 6 0 9 9 / 1 9 8 7 A c o c e l l a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4 / 3 2 2 34
Claims, 8 Dra wing Sheets
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320
FIG. 6B 340
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0 f
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530
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18A K510
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7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
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6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
1
GUITAR PICK
WITH
GRIPPING MEANS
RELATED APPLICATIONS
T h i s
a p p l i c a t i o n i s
a
c o n t i n u a t i o n o f
p r o v i s i o n a l
a p p l i c a
t i o n S e r . N o .
6 0 / 0 6 1 , 2 7 7
? l e d O c t . 7 , 1 9 9 7 .
BACKGROUND
OF THE
INVENTION
1 . F i e l d
o f
t h e I n v e n t i o n
The
p re s e n t i n v e n t i o n r e l a t e s
g e n e r a l l y
t o
a p i c k f o r
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t s , a n d
more
p a r t i c u l a r l y
t o
a p i c k
a n d
p i c k h o l d e r d e v i c e h a v i n g a n i m p ro v e d e r g o n o m i c g r i p t h a t
a l l o W s a more c o m f o r t a b l e ,
l e s s
t e n s e
g r i p t h a t
a v o i d s
p h y s i c a l
t e n s i o n
a n d s t r e s s
r e l a t e d
p r o b le m s a n d
f a c i l i t a t e s
i m p r o v e d p l a y i n g .
2 .
D e s c r i p t i o n
o f t h e
P r i o r
A r t
S t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s
h a v e
b e e n
knoWn
s i n c e a t l e a s t
t h e
M i d d l e Ages
a n d
means
f o r p l u c k i n g
t h e s e
s t r i n g s
e v o l v e d
from
t h e
u s e o f p i e c e s o f s e a s h e l l and
t o r t o i s e
s h e l l s . As
t h e
s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t s , a n d p a r t i c u l a r l y g u i t a r s , e v o l v e d a n d
t h e
i n t e n s i t y o f
t h e
m u s i c
i n c r e a s e d t o t h a t noW e i n g
p l a y e d
by r o c k
b a n d s
o n e l e c t r i c g u i t a r s , t h e
r e q u i r e m e n t f o r
i m p r o v e d g r i p p i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s
h a s s i m i l a r l y i n c r e a s e d .
W i t h
t h e f a s t e r ,
more
i n t e n s e p la y i n g ,
i t
i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e
c o n v e n t i o n a l
p i c k b e
g r i p p e d t i g h t l y a n d
s e c u r e l y
t o a c h i e v e
t h e
p r o p e r p i c k a l i g n m e n t a n d p o s s e s s i o n . I t h a s
b e e n f o u n d
t h a t W i t h t h e t i g h t g r i p p i n g o f t h e p r i o r a r t p i c k s , t h e r e h a s
been
a t e n d e n c y f o r t h e
p i c k s
t o move i n
t h e u s e r s
? n g e r
a n d
t o cause s t r e s s and
f a t i g u e
f o r
t h e
u s e r .
T h e p r o b l e m
o f
p r o v i d i n g a d e q u a t e
g r i p p i n g
c a p a b i l i t y
f o r
m u s i c a l p i c k s
h a s
b e e n
a p p r o a c h e d i n many d i f f e r e n t
Ways i n
t h e
p r i o r a r t
From
t h e
i n v e n t o r s e x p e r i e n c e ,
p i c k s
h a v e been
made
from
v a r i o u s m a t e r i a l s
a n d
i n a
v a r i e t y
o f
d i f f e r e n t
shapessome
h a v e
been made W i t h h o l e s
o r
W i t h
c r o s s h a t c h
n o n - s l i p
p a t t e r n s e m b o s s e d
i n t o
t h e p l a s t i c b u t
t h i s
n e v e r r e a l l y a c h i e v e d
t h e p o s i t i v e g r i p t h a t
Was
s o u g h t .
Some
u s e r s p u t t a p e on
a
p i c k i n
o r d e r
t o a c h i e v e b e t t e r
g r i p p i n g
o r h a v e
e v e n t a p e d
o r g l u e d t h e
p i c k t o
t h e i r
t h u m b s .
O t h e r
a t t e m p t s t o overcome t h e s e problems a r e
shoWn
i n
US. a t e n t s such a s : US. a t .
No.
1 , 0 0 9 , 4 0 3 Wherein a
thumb
r e c e i v i n g
boWl s a t t a c h e d by means
o f
a
h o l l o W
r i v e t
t o
a p i c k ; US.
a t .
No.
1 , 1 8 4 , 5 6 1
Wherein a h o l d e r
h a s
a
r e c e s s e d
? n g e r r e c e i v i n g
a r e a ;
US.
P a t .
N o . 1 , 5 7 3 , 9 1 2
W h e r e i n
n o n - s l i p
l e a t h e r i s u s e d ; US. P a t . N o . 2 , 1 7 0 , 1 7 9
W h e r e i n
o p p o s i t e
i n d e n t a t i o n s
e a c h r e c e i v e ? n g e r t i p s;
US.
P a t .
N o . 3 , 7 3 5 , 6 6 3
W h e r e i n
t h e
p o r t i o n
o f
t h e
p i c k b e i n g
h e l d
i s
c u r v e d ;
US.
P a t . N o s . 4 , 0 2 0 , 7 3 2 a n d 5 , 5 0 9 , 3 4 1
W h e r e i n t h e
p i c k
i s l o o p e d t o s u r r o u n d a t h u m b ; US. P a t .
N o .
4 , 1 5 0 , 6 0 1
i n c l u d i n g ? n g e r
r e c e i v i n g c h a n n e l s
o n o p p o
s i t e s i d e s
o f
a p i c k ; US. P a t . N o .
4 , 3 4 7 , 7 7 3
W h e r e i n a p a i r
o f
i n t e g r a l
s h o u l d e r s a c t a s ? n g e r s t o p s ; US.
P a t .
N o .
5 , 3 0 7 , 7 2 2
W h i c h
d i s c u s s e s p i c k
h o l d i n g a n d
i n c l u d e s
a
p i c k
h a v i n g a p a i r o f r i g h t a n g l e
? n s
t h a t p r o m o t e
i m p r o v e d
g r i p ;
US. P a t . No. 5 , 4 1 9 , 2 2 8 i n Which a m e t a l b a r a t one end h a s
? n g e r
r e c e i v i n g g r o o v e s
a n d
US. P a t .
N o .
5 , 6 1 0 , 3 4 9
W h e r e i n
c o n e - s h a p e d
p r o t r u s i o n s
p r o v i d e a r o u g h e n e d ? n g e r
g r i p p i n g s u r f a c e . I n a d d i t i o n ,
o t h e r
US. P a t e n t s , s u c h a s
US.
P a t . N o s . 5 5 7 , 2 9 3 ; 2 , 7 7 6 , 5 9 2 ; 3 , 4 4 2 , 1 6 9
a n d 3 , 7 8 9 ,
7 2 0 ,
i n c l u d e r i n g g r i p s t h a t e n c i r c l e a ? n g e r f o r p o s i t i v e
g r i p p i n g .
With a l l t h e
p r i o r
a r t d e v i c e s ,
We
and
o t h e r u s e r s
have
n e v e r b e e n
s a t i s ? e d
W i t h
t h e g r i p t h e y p r o v i d e . I t h a s
b e e n
found t h e p i c k s
t e n d
t o mo v e o r Walk
around
i n
betWeen
t h e t h u m b a n d i n d e x
? n g e r ,
t h e r e b y c h a n g i n g p o s i t i o n
a n d
r e q u i r i n g
i n c r e a s e d c o n c e n t r a t i o n
a n d
c o n s t a n t
a d j u s t m e n t
10
1 5
20
30
35
40
45
55
60
6 5
2
i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e p i c k i n p r op e r a l i g n m e n t
f o r t h e
d e s i r e d
a t t a c k
on
t h e
s t r i n g s .
P e r s p i r a t i o n
o r
humid
c o n d i t i o n s
g r e a t l y m a g n i f y t h e g r i p p i n g
p r o b l e m s .
S i m p l y p u t , t h e p r i o r
p i c k s Worked a g a i n s t t h e u s e r
r a t h e r
t h a n f o r
t h e
u s e r . A l s o ,
from
o u r e x p e r i e n c e ,
a s a r e s u l t
o f t h e
p r i o r a r t
p i c k s b e i n g
t i g h t l y
g r i p p e d ,
u n d u e
d a m p e n i n g
a n d
a
d e a d e n e d s o u n d
i s
p r o d u c e d .
A n o t h e r
d i s a d v a n t a g e
W i t h
t h e p r i o r
a r t p i c k s o r
p i c k h o l d e r s i s t h a t t h e y l a c k a d j u s t m e n t
o r a d a p t a b i l i t y , a n d
c a n n o t b e
c u s t o m i Z e d
t o t h e
i n d i v i d u a l
p r e f e r e n c e s
o f d i f
f e r e n t
p l a y i n g
a n g l e s .
D e s p i t e t h e
many a t t e m p t s
t o
i m p r o v e
t h e g r i p
o n
a p i c k ,
t h e r e remains a l o n g , unmet need f o r a
s i m p l e r
more
e r g o n o m i c ,
b e t t e r
p l a y i n g a n d c o n v e n i e n t p i c k
SUMMARY
OF THE INVENTION
T h e s e
a n d o t h e r a s p e ct s a n d a t t r i b u t e s o f t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n W i l l
b e
d i s c u s s e d W i t h r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e
f o l l o W i n g
d r a W i n g s a n d a c c o m p a n y i n g s p e c i ? c a t i o n .
A c c o r d i n g t o t h e i n v e n t i o n , t he r e i s
p r o v i de d a n
i m p r o v e d
p i c k a n d h o l d e r
d e v i c e
Which may
t a k e
t h e
form
o f a n
i n t e g r a l p i c k
a n d g r i p , o r a p i c k h o l d e r t h a t
W i l l
a c c e p t a n y
s t a n d a r d p i c k a n d some n o n - s t a n d a r d a n d custom p i c k s , a n d
h o l d
them t
a n y
d e s i r e d
a n g l e t o
p r o v i d e t h e
a d v a n t a g e s
o f
o u r
i n v e n t i o n
t o t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l p i c k .
G e n e r i c a l l y ,
t h e i n v e n t i o n
p r o v i d e s a ? r s t p o r t i o n
h a v i n g
What We have
c h a r a c t e r i Z e d
a s a second o r tongue o r ? a p
p o r t i o n o f m a t e r i a l t h a t
may b e
c h a r a c t e r i Z e d
a s b e i n g f o l d e d
u p
a n d o v e r
t h e ? r s t p o r t i o n
W i t h
t h e
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
h a v i n g
a c u r v e d
thumb o r
? n g e r
r e c e i v i n g
c o n ? g u r a t i o n
a d a p t e d t o
r e c e i v e
a n d
s e c u r e l y
h o l d o n e
o f a
u s e r s
? n g e r s a g a i n s t
l a t e r a l movement W i t h
t h e
o t h e r
o f
t h e
u s e r s
? n g e r s b e i n g
p r e s s e d
a g a i n s t t h e ? r s t p o r t i o n When t i s
a
p i c k o r a g a i n s t
a
s e c u r e d p l e c t r u m ,
When
t
i s
a
p i c k
h o l d e r t h e r e b y a l l o W i n g
t h e
u s e r t o s e c u r e l y
a n d
c o m f o r t a b l y g r a s p
t h e p i c k o r
h o l d e r
f o r
p l a y i n g .
The i m p r o v e d
p i c k
o r h o l d e r o f t h e i n v e n t i o n i s s i m p l e r
a n d more
c o n v e n i e n t t h a n knoWn p i c k s
o r h o l d e r .
T h u s , i t
i s
a o n e
p i e c e
p i c k o r
h o l d e r
Which p r e f e r a b l y i s
made o f
s u i t a b l e
m a t e r i a l s
e a s i l y
v a r i a b l e i n t h i c k n e s s
a n d
s t i f f n e s s
t h a t c o v e r
a Wide
r a n g e o f p l a y i n g
c o n d i t i o n s .
Examples o f
such m a t e r i a l s
a r e
p l a s t i c s , m e t a l s o r combinations
t h e r e o f .
I t
i s e a s i l y
f a b r i c a t e d
by
c o n v e n t i o n a l
m e a n s ,
s u c h
a s
d i e - c u t t i n g , b e n d i n g ,
o r i n j e c t i o n
m o l d i n g .
T h e f o l d e d
o v e r
s h a p e a l l o W s e a s y s t o r a g e o f t h e p i c k on t h e i n s t r u m e n t o r
g u i t a r
s t r a p ,
W h e r e b y , f o r e x a m p l e , a s t h e
u s e r s p i c k
u s a g e
r e q u i r e m e n t s c h a n g e
d u r i n g
u s e , t h e u s e r may
q u i c k l y s l i d e
h i s
c u r r e n t
p i c k o n t o
t h e s t o r a g e
means
a n d
p u l l
o f f
a n o t h e r
p i c k
o f
t h e
same
o r d i f f e r e n t
q u a l i t i e s
W i t h o u t m i s s i n g
a
b e a t
o r l o s i n g c o n c e n t r a t i o n .
T h e e r g o n o m i c s h a p e o f t h e p i c k o f
t h e
p re s e n t i n v e n t i o n
a l l o W s
a more c o m f o r t a b l e , l e s s t e n s e a n d l e s s
t i r i n g
g r i p t h a t
a v o i d s s t r e s s ,
f a t i g u e a n d
t h e a c c o m p a n y i n g p h y s i c a l
p r o b
lems
s u c h
a s c a r p a l t u n n e l syndrome and s t r a i n on t h e
f o r e a r m
a n d
b a c k . The c u r v e d
g r i p
i n W h a t may
b e
v a r i o u s l y
c h a r a c t e r i Z e d a s a c r a d l e o r
s a d d l e
o r
pocket shape
a l l o W s
t h e
m u s i c i a n
t o s e c u r e l y g r i p t h e
p i c k
o r h o l d e r r e g a r d l e s s
o f
t h e
s p e c i ? c
s t r i n g
p l a y i n g a n g l e o f
t h e
p i c k c h o s e n b y
t h e
m u s i c i a n .
I m p r o v e d
p l a y i n g r e s u l t s f r o m
t h e
f a c t t h a t
t h e e a s y t o
h o l d ,
s e c u r e
g r i p a v o i d s d r o p pi n g ,
a n d
t h e
u s e r n o t
h a v i n g
t o
W o r r y
a b o u t
s l i p p a g e
a n d
r e l a t i v e
movement
o f
t h e
p i c k
i n
t h e u s e r s ? n g e r s . T h i s i m p r o v e s t h e u s e r s c o n c e n t r a t i o n o n
t h e
m u s i c a n d
t e c h n i q u e .
The
a l i g n e d
c h a n n e l
o r
s a d d l e
g r i p
c o n ? g u r a t i o n p r o m o t e s a n d a c t u a l l y t e a c h e s t h e u s e r hoW o
p r o p e r l y
h o l d
t h e p i c k Whereby
i t
f u n c t i o n s a s
a
t e a c h i n g
t o o l .
-
7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
11/14
6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
3
E - m a i l e v a l u a t i o n messages o t h e
i n t e r n e t
We b i t e
o f
t h e
i n v e n t o r s , t o W i t :
WWW.BIGROCKENG.COM, h a v e c o n s i s t e n t l y p r o
d u c e d p o s i t i v e ,
a p p r e c i a t i v e
a n d
r a v e r e v i e W s i n d i
c a t i n g many e n e ? t s , i n c l u d i n g
among
t h e r t h i n g s
t h a t
t h e
u s e r s
?nd
t h e
p i c k
and
h o l d e r
o f
t h e
i n v e n t i o n
p r o d u c e What i s c h a r a c t e r i Z e d
a s a
b r i g h t e r and more
l i v e l y s o u n d
t h a t
m a k e s o l d s t r i n g s s o u n d n e W e r .
These e v a l u a t i o n s
i n d i c a t e
i n t h e
i n v e n t o r s
minds t h e
f u l ? l l m e n t
o f
h e r e t o f o r e unmet
n e e d s
and e v i d e n c e
o f
u n e x p e c t e d
r e s u l t s .
C o n t r i b u t i n g
t o
t h e s e d e s i r a b l e e f f e c t s i s t h e
f a c t
t h a t t h e
p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n s
c o n s t r u c t i o n , o n l y
o n e ? n g e r o f t h e
u s e r
f u l l y c o n t a c t s one s i d e o f t h e
p i c k
s u r f a c e a s t h e o t h e r
g r i p p i n g
? n g e r i s
c r a d l e d aWay
f r o m
f u l l c o n t a c t
W i t h
t h e
o t h e r s u rf a c e o f t h e
p i c k . B e c a u s e t h e dampening e f f e c t on
t h e
p i c k
o f ? n g e r
c o n t a c t
a n d r e d u c t i o n
o f h i g h g r i p pi n g
p r e s s u r e i n
t h e
o r d e r
o f
h a l f i t a m p l i ? e s
t h e
E n g l i s h
p i c k s c r a p e sound
a s
W e l l
a s
t h e h a r m o n i c s
a n d o t h e r
p e r c u s s i v e
e f f e c t s .
T h e
p re s e n t i n v e n t i o n p e r m i t s t h e p i c k t o
r e a l l y
become
a n
i n s t r u m e n t u n t o i t s e l f , p r o v i d i n g
i t s
oWn
a d a p t i v e c h a r
a c t e r i s t i c s t o t h e s o u n d o f t h e r e s p e c t i v e s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t .
T h u s , t h e p i c k i t s e l f c a n b e
t u n e d
b y
v a r y i n g
t h e
amount
o f
p i c k
s c r a p e a s , f o r
e x a m p l e , b y
s q u e e Z i n g a n d
m o v i n g t h e
c u r v e d
? n g e r r e c e i v i n g p o r t i o n s t o W a r d t h e p l a n a r p i c k
p o r t i o n s ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y . F u r t h e r m o r e ,
t h e
p i c k
a n d
h o l d e r
c o n s t r u c t i o n d o e s n o t p r e c lu d e c o n v e n t i o n a l
d a m p e n i n g
p r o c e s s e s
W h e r e b y ,
f o r
e x a m p l e ,
t h e
thumb
may
b e moved
t o W a r d t h e
s t r i n g
e n g a g i n g
t i p o f
t h e p i c k .
BR I E F
DESCRIPTION
OF THE DRAWINGS
V a r i o u s o t h e r
o b j e c t s
a n d
t e a c h i n g s
o f
t h e i n v e n t i o n W i l l
become
a p p a r e n t
When
r e f e r e n c e
i s
made
t o
t h e
f o l l o W i n g
d e t a i l e d
d e s c r i p t i o n
c o n s i d e r e d
i n c o n j u n c t i o n W i t h
t h e
a c c o m p a n y i n g d r a W i n g s ,
i n
W h i c h :
F I G .
1 i s a
s i d e
e l e v a t i o n a l
vieW
o f a
p r e f e r r e d
embodi
ment
o f
a m u s i c i a n s p i c k a c c o r d i n g
t o
t h e
p r e s e n t
i n v e n
t i o n ;
F I G . 2 i s
a
f r o n t
e l e v a t i o n a l
vieW
from
t h e l e f t
o f
t h e p i c k
o f
F I G .
1 ;
F I G .
3A
s
a p l a n
vieW
o f
t h e
p i c k o f
F I G .
1
W i t h
v a r i o u s
e x a m p l e s
o f
p o s s i b l e
p i c k
t i p a n g l e s a n d s h o W s i n d o t t e d
l i n e s a p l a n
vieW
o f
a n u n f o l d e d
p i c k o f
F I G .
1 ;
F I G .
3B
shoWs i n d o t t e d l i n e s a p l a n
vieW
o f t h e
p i c k
o f
F I G . 1 W i t h y e t a n o t h e r e x a m p l e o f
a
p i c k t i p a n g l e ;
FIG. 4
s
a schematic
o f
a
p i c k
a s i t might be s t o r e d on t h e
i n s t r u m e n t
d u r i n g u s e ;
F I G . 5 i s a s c h e m a t i c o f a p i c k
a c c o r d i n g
t o t h e p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n o f
FIGS.
13
b e i n g
h e l d i n t h e hand o f a u s e r
W i t h
t h e
i n d e x
? n g e r
i n
t h e
c u r v e d
s a d d l e p o r t i o n ;
F I G . 6A
s a p l a n vieW o f
a n u n f o l d e d
v e r s i o n o f a n o t h e r
e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e p i c k ;
F I G .
6B
i s
a
p l a n vieW o f t h e f o l d e d p i c k o f F I G .
6A
s
u s e d ;
F I G .
7 i s
a n
e l e v a t i o n a l vieW o f
t h e
p i c k o f
F I G .
6 B ;
F I G . 8 i s a vieW o f
t h e
p i c k o f
F I G S . 6 a n d 7 b e i n g h e l d
W i t h
t h e
t h u m b ;
F I G S . 9A n d 9B
l l u s t r a t e
t h e i n s e r t i o n i n t o a n d s e c u r i n g
o f
a
p i c k
i n t o a
p i c k
h o l d e r
o f
t h e i n v e n t i o n ;
F I G .
9C
s
a
vieW
a l o n g
1X1X
f
F I G .
9A
shoWing
o f
a n example
o f p i c k
s e c u r i n g means o n a
p o r t i o n o f
t h e
p i c k
h o l d e r
o f
F I G . 9 A ;
F I G .
1 0
i s a n e n l a r g e d p r e f e r r e d embodiment o f t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i n
t h e form
o f a p i c k h o l d e r
r e t a i n i n g
a
p l e c t r u m ;
1 5
25
35
45
55
6 5
4
F I G . 1 1
i s - a n
a l t e r n a t e p r e f e r r e d - e m b o d i m e n t o f t h e
p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n i n
t h e form
o f a p i c k h o l d e r
r e t a i n i n g
a
p l e c t r u m ;
FIGS.
1214 a r e
p l a n vieWs o f s i m i l a r embodiments o f
p i c k h o l d e r s h a v i n g p r o n g s e n g a g i n g s l o t s o r i n d e n t a t i o n s
t h a t a r e
s e t
a t
v a r i o u s p o s i t i o n s
t o i l l u s t r a t e
t h e
v a r y i n g
a n g l e s
a n d
p o s i t i o n s a t W h i c h p i c k s o r
p i c k
p o r t i o n s may b e
h e l d b y
t h e
h o l d e r s ;
F I G .
1 5 shoWs t h e
p i c k
p e r s e
o f
F I G . 1 4 W i t h i n s c r i b e d
l i n e s
t h e r e o n ;
F I G . 1 6 i s a p a r t i a l vieW o f t h e p i c k g r i p p i n g t a b o f
F I G S .
9 A C s c h e m a t i c a l l y
s h o W i n g a n
embodiment
W h e r e i n
t h e
p i c k i s m e c h a n i c a l l y f a s t e n e d a s b y c r i m p i n g
t h e
h o l d e r
t a b
t o
t h e
p l e c t r u m ;
FIGS. 17A and 17B shoW y e t a n o t h e r embodiment
o f
a
p i c k
h o l d e r a n d
p i c k
s e c u r i n g
m e a n s ;
a n d
FIGS.
18A a n d
18B shoW a n o t h e r
embodiment W h e r e i n
t h e p i c k
h a s a n e n l a r g e d
p o r t i o n
a l o n g o n e
s i d e Which
may
be
s l i d
i n t o
t h e
h o l d e r
t o
s e c u r e
i t
i n
p l a c e .
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION
OF PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
While t h i s
i n v e n t i o n
i s
s u s c e p t i b l e
o f
embodiment
i n
many
d i f f e r e n t
f o r m s ,
t h e r e
i s
shoWn
i n
t h e d r a W i n g s ,
a n d
W i l l b e d e s c r i b e d
h e r e i n
i n d e t a i l ,
s p e c i ? c
e m b o d i m e n t s
t h e r e o f
W i t h
t h e
u n d e r s t a n d i n g
t h a t t h e p r e s e n t d i s c l o s ur e i s
t o be
c o n s i d e r e d
a s a n e x e m p l i ? c a t i o n o f t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f
t h e
i n v e n t i o n and s n o t i n t e n d e d t o l i m i t
t h e
i n v e n t i o n t o t h e
s p e c i ? c e m b o d i m e n t s
i l l u s t r a t e d .
R e f e r r i n g noW p e c i ? c a l l y
t o
t h e
d r a W i n g s , a ? r s t embodi
ment
o f t h e i n v e n t i o n i s shoWn i n
F I G .
1 , W h e r e i n a p i c k f o r
a
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t g e n e r a l l y
i n d i c a t e d
a t 1 0 i s shoWn
t o
i n c l u d e
a
p l a n a r
? r s t
p o s i t i o n
20
h a v i n g
a
s e c o n d
o r
c l i p
o r
n o n - s l i p
g r i p p o r t i o n 3 0
f o l d e d
t h e r e o v e r .
T h e
n o n
s l i p g r i p
p o r t i o n 30
h a s a c u r v e d
o u t e r s u r f a c e
30a i n
t h e
form o f What
may e
c h a r a c t e r i Z e d
a s a pocket
o r
thumb o r
?nger
c r a d l e
o r i n d e n t a t i o n c u r v a t u r e 3 0 f . The p o r t i o n 30 i n c l u d e s a n
i n s i d e s u r f a c e 3 0 b , a
s u r r o u n d i n g
e d g e
3 0 c ,
a b o t t o m a r e a
30d
a n d a n u p p e r p o r t i o n 3 0 6 . Upper a n d bottom
a r e
r e l a t i v e
t o
a t i p
p o r t i o n 2 0 6 .
As
shoWn
i n F I G . 1 , t h e c r a d l e 30
may
be
s a i d
t o have a n a x i s p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o
t h e
p a p e r Which
Would b e i n a v e r t i c a l d i r e c t i o n 30g i n FIGS. 3A n d
3 B .
The
? r s t a n d s e c o n d p o r t i o n s 2 0 , 3 0 , t y p i c a l l y c o n t a c t
e a c h
o t h e r
i n
t h e a r e a 3 0 f
n
t h e d i r e c t i o n
30g
When t
r e s t
a n d c e r t a i n l y
When g r i p p e d by t h e u s e r .
The
? r s t o r body p o r t i o n 2 0 may
b e g e n e r a l l y
p l a n a r a n d
i n c l u d e a g e n e r a l l y
p l a n a r
o u t e r
s u r f a c e
2 0 a ,
a n d
a
g e n e r a l l y p l a n a r
i n n e r s u r fa c e
2 0 b ,
a
s u r r o u n d i n g e d g e
2 0 c ,
a c o n n e c t i n g
p o r t i o n
2 0 d , a n d a s t r i n g
e n g a g i n g t i p p o r t i o n 2 0 6 .
As
shoWn
n
F I G S .
3A n d 3 B , t h e
s t r i n g e n g a g i n g
p o r t i o n o r t i p
2 0 6 may b e
o r i e n t e d t o b e
a t
v a r i o u s a n g l e s t o t h e d i r e c t i o n 3 0 g o f t h e
? n g e r
g r i p
p o r t i o n
30 t o accommodate
d i f f e r e n t
g r i p s
a n d i n d i v i d u a l p r e f e r
e n c e s on
p l a y i n g
a n g l e s a n d
i n s t r u m e n t s . The
s t r i n g e n g a g
i n g p o r t i o n 206 may b e i n a r a n g e o f a n g l e s a s r e p r e s e n t e d
a s e x t e n d i n g f o r e x a m p l e
f r o m
2 0 6 , 2 0 c a n d
2 0 6
i n
F I G .
3A
t o
2 0 e " i n F I G . 3B. F I G . 3A shoWs a r a n g e o f a n g l e s
b e t W e e n t h e d i r e c t i o n 3 0 g o f t h e c r a d l e 3 0 f a n d t h e
p o s i t i o n
o f t h e t i p
2 0 6 .
H e r e i t may b e u n d e r s t o o d t h a t W i t h d i f f e r e n t
f o l d
l i n e s , a n d
i n
some c a s e s
d i f f e r e n t b l a n k
s h a p e s ,
t h e t i p
p o s i t i o n o r
r e l a t i v e
a n g l e
t o
30g may b e e a s i l y v a r i e d b y , f o r
e x a m p l e ,
206
t o
2 0 c
t o
2 0 6
t o
2 0 e " .
The
p o r t i o n s
306
a n d
20d a r e shoWn
c o n n e c t e d
by
a n
i n t e r m e d i a t e
c u r v e d
p o r t i o n
4 0 .
The i n t e r m e d i a t e
p o r t i o n 40 i s f o l d e d o v e r
more t h a n
1 8 0 a s
shoWn from a
c o m p a r i s o n
o f
F I G S .
1 , 3A, a n d 3 B .
F I G .
3B s e f f e c t i v e l y t h e
same
b l a n k
a s 3A, e x c e p t
t h a t
t h e
s e c o n d p o r t i o n
1 3 0
h a s
b e e n f o l d e d
i n
t h e o p p o s i t e
d i r e c t i o n .
-
7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
12/14
6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
5
T h i s a l l o w s e a s y
accommodation f o r
b o t h
r i g h t
a n d l e f t
h a n d e d p l a y e r s .
T h e
g r i p p o r t i o n
3 0 f i s
shoWn t o i n c l u d e a g e n e r a l l y
c y l i n d r i c a l l y
c u r v e d p o r t i o n e x t e n d i n g
f r o m
a p p r o x i m a t e l y
3 0 a '
t o 306
and a d a p t e d
t o mate
W i t h and r e c e i v e one
o f
t h e
t W o
? n g e r s
u s u a l l y
u s e d
b y
t h e
p l a y e r
t o
h o l d
t h e p i c k .
As
shoWn
i n F I G S . 1
a n d 3 A , t h e p o r t i o n s
2 0 , 3 0 ,
a n d 4 0
may
b e
i n t e g r a l l y f o r m e d .
The embodiments
o f F I G S . 6 A , 6 B , 7 ,
a n d
8
a r e
s i m i l a r
i n
c o n s t r u c t i o n
W i t h
p o r t i o n s 3 2 0 ,
3 2 0 a , 3 3 0 , 3 3 0 g , 3 4 0 ,
3 3 0 f , a n d 3 2 0 6 c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o p o r t i o n s 2 0 , 2 0 a , 3 0 , 3 0 a ,
4 0 , 3 0 f , a n d
2 0 6 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
h o W e v e r t h e o r i e n t a t i o n
t o
t h e
hand o f t h e u s e r a s shoWn i n FIG. 8 h a s t h e u s e r s thumb T
i n t h e
? n g e r c r a d l e 3 3 0 f a n d
t h e i n d e x
? n g e r
F b e l o W a g a i n s t
p o r t i o n
3 2 0 a
a n d
t h e a n g l e o f t h e
t i p 3 2 0 6 a p p r o x i m a t e l y
p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o
t h e d i r e c t i o n
3 3 0 g .
T h i s
c o m p a r e s W i t h
t h e
o r i e n t a t i o n
shoWn n
F I G . 5 W h e r e i n t h e i n d e x ? n g e r F
s
i n
t h e
c r a d l e 3 0 f a n d
t h e
thumb
i s
a g a i n s t s u r f a c e 2 0 a .
An i m p o r t a n t a d v a n t a g e o f t h e
i n v e n t i o n
i s t h a t t h e d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
t h e
i n v e n t i o n may b e e a s i l y made b y
t h e s t e p s
o f f o r m i n g
t h e
p o r t i o n s 2 0 , 3 0 ,
a n d 4 0 i n
a g e n e r a l l y
p l a n a r
s h a p e , a s shoWn i n
F I G S .
3A
n d 3 B ,
t h r o u g h p r o c e s s e s s u c h
a s d i e - c u t t i n g o r i n j e c t i o n
m o l d i n g , a n d t h e n b e n d i n g
t h e
? r s t
o r ?ap
p o r t i o n
30
o v e r
t h e
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
20 t h r o u g h a
1 8 0 +
b e n d .
The
b e n d i n g
s t e p s may i n c l u d e a h e a t t r e a t i n g
o f
t h e m a t e r i a l . The m a t e r i a l s Which
l e n d t h e m s e l v e s
t o
t h i s
p r o c e s s o f
m a n u f a c t u r e r i n c l u d e
c e l l u l o i d , p l a s t i c
a n d m e t a l
t y p e
m a t e r i a l s .
I n most
c a s e s , t h e
h o l d e r o f FIGS. 918 W i l l
b e m e t a l , a l t h o u g h neW h i g h s t r e n g t h s y n t h e t i c m a t e r i a l s o r
c o m b i n a t i o n s
t h e r e o f may b e u s e d .
A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e d e v i c e
may b e
made b y i n j e c t i o n m o l d
i n g a
p l a s t i c
m a t e r i a l
i n t o
a mold s h a p e d a s t h e
? n i s h e d
p r o d u c t ,
a l l o W i n g
t h e
m a t e r i a l
t o
c u r e
a n d r e m o v i n g
t h e
d e v i c e f r o m
t h e
mold
a n d
t h e n
? n i s h i n g t h e m a t e r i a l . I n
s u c h
a c a s e , Where
t h e tWo
?aps meet i n a mold, a second
o p e r a t i o n
may
b e n e c e s s a r y t o
s e p a r a t e t h e p o r t i o n .
R e f e r r i n g
t o
F I G S .
1 0 a n d 1 1 , t h e r e
i s
shoWn a
p i c k - h o l d e r
e m b o d y i n g
t h e a d v a n t a g e o u s
c o n c e p t s o f
t h e i n v e n t i o n .
T h u s ,
a s shoWn
i n
F I G . 1 1 ,
a ? r s t
p o r t i o n
120
i n c l u d e s a n
o u t e r s u r f a c e
120a and a n
i n n e r s u r f a c e 120b
s u r r o u n d e d by
a n
e d g e
1 2 0 6 .
A econd o r
c u r v e d
p o r t i o n Which may b e
c h a r a c t e r i Z e d a s
a
g r i p , p o c k e t o r
c r a d l e
p o r t i o n 130
i s
c o n n e c t e d
t o
t h e ? r s t
p o r t i o n
120 t h r o u g h a n
i n t e r m e d i a t e
p o r t i o n 1 4 0 . P o r t i o n
130
i n c l u d e s
a n o u t e r s u r f a c e 1 3 0 a ,
a n
i n n e r s u r f a c e 1 3 0 b , a n e d g e 1 3 0 c ,
t h e r e b e t W e e n
a c u r v e d
t h u m b o r
? n g e r r e c e i v i n g
p o c k e t 1 3 0 d ,
a n d a
c o n n e c t i n g
p o r t i o n 1 3 0 6 .
As
shoWn,
t h e
p o r t i o n
140
c u r v e s
more
t h a n
on
t h e o r d e r o f 1 8 0 b e t W e e n
a
p o r t i o n
120d o f t h e
? r s t
p o r t i o n
a n d a p o r t i o n 1 3 0 6 o f t h e s e c o n d p o r t i o n .
T h e e x a c t c o n ? g u r a t i o n
o f
s t r i n g
e n g a g i n g
t i p s 2 0 6 ,
1 5 0 6
may be
v a r i e d a s d e s i r e d
from
p o i n t
t o a round r a d i u s
shoWn,
f o r
e x a m p l e , b y t h e
d o t t e d
l i n e s 1 5 0 6 i n F I G . 1 0 .
F I G S .
17A
a n d 17B
i l l u s t r a t e a n o t h e r
a l t e r n a t i v e
p i c k
s e c u r i n g
m e a n s
4 6 0 , h e r e shoWn a n g l e d
t o W a r d p o r t i o n
4 2 0
Whereby
a
p i c k , n o t s h o W n , may b e moved i n v a r i o u s
d i r e c t i o n s
a l a
F I G S .
9A
n d 9 B , b u t s e c u r e d b y e n d p o r t i o n
4 6 7 a g a i n s t o p p o s i t e o u t W a r d m o v e m e n t . H e r e
a l s o ,
i t W i l l
b e n o t e d t h a t t h e ? n g e r
r e s t p o r t i o n
430 may h a v e a g r e a t e r
r a d i u s
o r
r a d i i t h a n c o m p a r a b l e p o r t i o n s
30
a n d
1 3 0 , f o r
e x a m p l e . A l s o , a c o m p a r i s o n
W i t h
130
o f F I G . 1 0 shoWs a n
open
c e n t e r
i n
130
v e r s u s
a
c l o s e d
c e n t e r .
Varying
t h e s e
a s p e c t s W i l l a l l o W more o r l e s s
?nger
o r thumb p r e s s u r e
a n d / o r p r e s s u r e t o
b e d i r e c t l y
a p p l i e d t o
t h e p i c k ,
t h e r e b y
v a r y i n g p l a y i n g c o n d i t i o n s ,
s u c h
a s
d a m p e n i n g
t o p r o d u c e
r e l a t i v e l y d i f f e r e n t
d e g r e e s o f
b r i g h t n e s s a n d e f f e c t i v e l y
t u n e
t h e p i c k .
10
1 5
25
35
45
55
6 5
6
Another means f o r
s e c u r i n g
a p i c k i n a h o l d e r i s i l l u s t r a t e d
b y F I G S .
18A18C, W h e r e i n a p i c k h a s a n e n l a r g e d p o r t i o n
355 o f a s i Z e a d a p t e d t o s l i d e i n t o a n d ? t s n u g l y i n a l a t e r a l l y
e x t e n d i n g s pa c e 5 9 0 a d j a c e n t t h e
b r i d g i n g
o r c o n n e c t i n g
p o r t i o n s 5 4 0 a o r
5 4 0 c .
I n
F I G . 1 8 A ,
t h e s e c u r i n g
member
560
o f
a
t y p e d i s c l o s e d h e r e i n
h o l d s
t h e
p i c k
i n
p l a c e
W h e r e i n
i n
F I G . 1 8 C , a
f u r t h e r
e n l a r g e d
p o r t i o n 5 5 6
s n a p s
i n t o
a n
o p e n i n g i n t h e p o r t i o n
540c
o r 5 3 0 .
The ? r s t and
second
p o r t i o n s m y have a gap
t h e r e b e t W e e n ,
a s shoWn
i n FIGS. 9A nd 9B, Which s e r v e
t o
r e c e i v e a n d c a p t u r e a p l e c t r u m o r p i c k 1 5 0 . F I G . 9B
shoWs
t h e t a b 160
a f t e r
e x t e r n a l f o r c e Was a p p l i e d t o
u r g e
t h e t e e t h
1 6 0 [ shown i n F I G . 9 C , i n t o t h e p l e c t r u m 1 5 0 . With t h i s
a p p r o a c h , a n d u s i n g p r o pe r y e t s i m p l e
j i g s
a n d e q u i p me n t
f o r f a b r i c a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g
c u t t i n g
a l i g n m e n t , a n d
c r i m p i n g ,
t h e
p o s i t i o n
o f t h e p i c k
r e l a t i v e
t o t h e
? n g e r
o r
thumb
r e c e i v i n g g r i p p o t i o n 1 3 0
may b e
i n ? n i t e l y v a r i e d
a n d
a c c u r a t e l y a n d
p r e c i se l y f a b r i ca t e d t o
m e e t
n e a r l y
e v e r y
u s e r s r e q u e s t , i n c l u d i n g
W i t h o u t
l i m i t a t i o n , a n g l e , m a t e r i a l ,
h a r d n e s s ,
? e x i b i l i t y ,
s h a p e , s i Z e , a n d
t h i c k n e s s .
T h e p l e c
trum
150
may
e
o f
any
s t a n d a r d , o r
i n
some
n o n - s t a n d a r d
a n d
custom
y p e s Whereby h e u s e r s W i l l n o t b e l i m i t e d i n t h e
t y p e o f p i c k t h a t t h e y a r e u s i n g b u t y e t W i ll o b t a i n
a l l
o f t h e
a d v a n t a g e s
o f t h e i n v e n t i o n . S i n c e t h e r e c e i v i n g p o r t i o n
i n c l u d i n g
t h e
i n s i d e s u r f a c e s 120b and 130b may accom
m o d a t e d i f f e r i n g
t h i c k n e s s e s ,
s i Z e s a n d
s h a p e s ,
t h e h o l d e r
u n i t 1 1 0 becomes q u i t e v e r s a t i l e . The
s p a c i n g
b e t w e e n 1 6 0 [
a n d 1 2 0 ,
o r 467
a n d
4 2 0 ,
a n d
t h e p o s s i bl e s p r i n g
l o a d
may
b e a d j u s t e d o r may r e q u i r e d i f f e r e n t models o accommodate
p i c k s o f g r e a t l y
d i f f e r e n t
t h i c k n e s s e s . T h u s , i f
t h e
g a p
i s
s e t
f o r a
p i c k 0 . 0 1 5 t h i c k ,
i t may n o t r e c e i v e o r push
doWn
on
a p i c k 0 . 0 4 5 t h i c k . H e r e , t h e a d j u s t m e n t s may b e i n
t h e
p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s o f
p o r t i o n 1 6 0
i n c l u d i n g
s t i f f n e s s ,
? e x i b i l i t y , a n d r e s i l i e n c e , f o r e x a m p l e . We h a v e f o u n d t h a t
m e t a l
p r o v i d e s
t h e ,
b e s t
r e s u l t s
f o r
t h e
m a n u f a c t u r e
o f
t h e
h o l d e r s 1 1 0 , 4 1 0 , a n d 5 1 0 . When t h e s e v a r i o u s t y p e s
o f
p l e c t r u m s
a r e
u s e d , We h a v e f o u n d
t h a t i t i s a d v a n t a g e o u s
t o
provide a
t a b o r
l o c k i n g m em b e r
o r
h o l d e r attachment means
1 6 0 . T h i s a t t a c h m e n t member 160 may b e
from
t h e
same
m a t e r i a l o r i n t e g r a l l y
f o r m e d
W i t h t h e p o r t i o n s 1 2 0 , 1 3 0 , a n d
1 4 0 , o r may b e a s e p a r a t e s e c u r i n g means t h a t i s p a r t i a l l y
connected With 110 o r s e p a r a t e therefrom such
a s
a s t a p l e o r
b r a d
( n o t s h o W n ) . I n o n e e m b o d i m e n t ,
l o c k i n g member
1 6 0
may be formed a s a r e s i l i e n t
s p r i n g
b i a s e d toWard 120 and
u r g i n g
t h e
l o c k i n g
member e n d 160a
i n t o c o n t a c t
W i t h
a
h o l d e r a t t a c h m e n t mens on t h e p i c k 1 5 0 . T h i s a t t a c h m e n t
means may be a n opening o r i n d e n t a t i o n
1506
i n
t h e
p i c k
1 2 0 .
As
a
f u r t h e r
embodiment,
a s
shoWn
i n
FIGS. 10
and
1 1 ,
a h o l e 120h may b e formed i n
t h e ? r s t
p o r t i o n
120
Whereby
t h e t i p 1 6 0 a e x t e n d s
t h r o u g h a n o p e n i n g
1 5 0 k
a n d h o l e
1 2 0 h
a s
W e l l .
Asuitable s n a p
? t
means
W i l l
h o l d
t h e end 160a
i n
t h e h o l e s
150k a n d 1 2 0 k . The
h o l d e r 110
may b e manufac
t u r e d
i n
a
manner s i m i l a r
t o t h e pick
a s
d i s c l o s e d
i n
c o n n e c t i o n W i t h t h e
embodiment o f
FIGS. 1 7 . I n such
a
c a s e ,
t h e
l o c k
o r t a b
160 c o u l d b e
c u t
from
p o r t i o n s 130
W i t h
a ? r s t
end 160c r e m a i n i n g
i n t e g r a l
t h e r e W i t h and b e n t
o r
o t h e r W i s e f a b r i c a t e d .
Although
We
have
shoWn
i n
FIGS. 9A
nd
9B one
Way
t o
c o n n e c t
h o l d e r
110 and p i c k 1 5 0 , t h e r e a r e
many d i f f e r e n t
Ways h i s may b e e f f e c t i v e l y a c c o m p l i s h e d .
T h u s ,
a s shoWn
i n
F I G . 1 6 , t h e t a b o r l o c k
1 6 0 ,
h a v i n g t e e t h
1 6 0 [
o r s i m i l a r
p i c k
a n d
h o l d e r
e n g a g i n g
m e a n s ,
may
b e
s l i p p e d
o v e r
t h e
p i c k 1 5 0 a n d h o l d e r 1 2 0 , a n d p i n c h e d t o g e t h e r b y s u i t a b l e
m e a n s ,
s u c h a s
t h e p l i e r s s c h e m a t i c a l l y shoWn a t 1 8 0 .
SWaging o r
a d h e r i n g ,
n o t s h o W n , may
a l s o b e
u s e d . The
i m p o r t a n t
t h i n g i s t h a t a
s e c u r e
bond b e e f f e c t e d betWeen t h e
tWo.
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7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
13/14
6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
7
FIGS.
1215 i l l u s t r a t e
a n o t h e r s i m p l e
a n d
e f f e c t i v e
Way
a
W i d e v a r i e t y o f d i f f e r e n t a n g l e s a n d h o l d e r p i c k a t t i t u d e s
may
b e a c h i e v e d
by
a minimum number o f d i f f e r e n t p a r t s .
T h u s , F I G .
1 2
s h o W s
hoW h e
g r i p p o r t i o n 230
may
b e
o f f s e t
from t h e v e r t i c a l
a x i s o f
t h e p i c k
250
f
r e q u i r e d
o r
d e s i r e d .
A g a i n ,
260
may
a t t a c h t h e
p i c k
t o
t h e
h o l d e r
i n
a n y
o f
t h e
d i s c l o s e d
W a y s .
F I G S .
1 3 a n d
1 4
i l l u s t r a t e
hoW
a
s i n g l e
p i c k 3 5 0 ,
a s
shoWn
by
i t s e l f i n F I G . 1 5 ,
may b e ? i p p e d
o v e r t o
b e
accommodated
i n tWo d i f f e r e n t h o l d e r s 310a
a n d
3 1 0 b .
The
p i c k 3 5 0 h a s s h o u l d e r p o r t i o n
3 5 1
r e m o v e d a l o n g l i n e
351A
and a s u i t a b l e
h o l d e r
engaging
means 3 8 1 , such
a s a s l o t ,
W h e r e b y
When
p i c k
3 5 0 i s
s e c u r e d
p o s i t i o n e d
W i t h l i n e
3 5 1
a d j a c e n t a n d p a r a l l e l t o p o r t i o n 3 4 0 i n 3 1 0 a
a n d
3 1 0 b , a n d
s e c u r e d by
s e c u r i n g
member 6 0 , i t W i l l
s e r v e
tWo p u r p o s e s .
F u r t h e r o n s i t e c u s t o m i Z i n g o f p i c k 350 W i l l
b e
f a c i l i t a t e d by
g u i d e
l i n e s o r
m a r k i n g s ,
s u c h a s
shoWn
t
3 8 2 3 8 5 . A l s o , t h e
p i c k s
may
b e
p r e f a b r i c a t e d W i t h
a
s u i t a b l e h o l d e r
e n g a g i n g
means a t v a r i o u s p r e d e t e r e e n e d p o s i t i o n s
a s f o r example
i n
o r
a l o n g
t h e
g u i d e l i n e s .
I n u s e ,
t h e p i c k
a s
shoWn i n FIGS. 118 may b e e a s i l y a n d
c o m f o r t a b l y h e l d
betWeen
t h e
thumb
and i n d e x ? n d e r a s
shoWn i n FIGS.
5
a n d 8 . Here t W i l l b e s e e n t h a t t h e p o c k e t
o r c h a n n e l 30d W i l l s n u g l y r e c e i v e
e i t h e r
t h e ? n g e r a s shoWn
i n
F I G .
5 ,
o r t h e thumb
a s shoWn
i n F I G .
8 ,
depending on t h e
p r e f e r e n c e
o f
t h e
u s e r . T h u s , some u s e r s
may
p r e f e r
t h e
?ap
o r g r i p p o r t i o n 3 0 f a c i n g doWnWard W h i c h W i l l b r i n g s u r f a c e
3 0 a '
i n c o n t a c t
W i t h t h e i n d e x ? n g e r t i p a s shoWn i n F I G . 5 ,
W h i l e
o t h e r s W i l l
p r e f e r t h a t
i t
b e
o n t h e t o p p l a n e o f t h e
p i c k
Where i t W i l l b e u n d e r t h e thumb, a s shoWn i n F I G . 8 . F o r
c l a r i ? c a t i o n , i t
W i l l
b e n o t e d
t h a t t y p i c a l l y , i n
u s e , i f
t h e ? a p
o r
g r i p s u r f a c e 3 0 a '
i s f a c i n g u p W a r d , i t c o n t a c t s
t h e
t h u m b ,
W h e r e a s When i t
f a c e s
doWnWard, i t
c o n t a c t s
t h e i n d e x
? n g e r .
The a d v a n t a g e s
o f
t h e i n v e n t i o n may noW b e r e a d i l y
u n d e r s t o o d . T h u s ,
We
have p r o v i d e d a
s i m p l e r , more
c o n v e n i e n t , e r g o n o m i c ,
a n d b e t t e r
p l a y i n g p i c k
a n d p i c k
h o l d e r . S i m p l i c i t y i s e v i d e n t i n t h e s m o o t h l y f o l d e d o n e
p i e c e
c o n s t r u c t i o n
t h a t
forms a
p o c k e t
o r
c h a n n e l
Which
m a t i n g l y
r e c e i v e s a n d c o m f o r t a b l y , y e t s e c u r e l y , h o l d s a
?nger o r
thumb
i n What b e c h a r a c t e r i Z e d a s a predetermined
p o s i t i o n . As
i s
c l e a r l y e v i d e n t , t h e
p o c k e t o r c h a n n e l 30d
p r o p e r l y p o s i t i o n s t h e p i c k d u r i n g
p l a y .
T h i s h a s b e e n f o u n d ,
i n
f a c t ,
t o
be h e l p f u l
a s
a n
i n s t r u c t i o n a l a i d and
c o r r e c t s bad
h a b i t s b y f o r c i n g
m o r e
s p e c i ? c ? n g e r o r i e n t a t i o n . T h e
s i m p l i c i t y
o f c o n s t r u c t i o n
a l l o W s
t h e u s e o f v a r i o u s
s h e e t l i k e
m a t e r i a l s
o f
v a r i o u s t h i c k n e s s e s ,
s i Z e s ,
h a r d n e s s e s , a n d
? e x i b i l i t y
t o
s a t i s f y
a
W i d e
r a n g e
o f
p l a y i n g
c o n d i t i o n s
a n d
u s e r
p r e f e r e n c e s . T h e
f o l d e d c o n ? g u r a t i o n
i s
e f ? c i e n t l y
m a n u f a c t u r e d a n d a l l o W s c o n v e n i e n t s t o r a g e o f
t h e
p i c k ,
a s
W e l l
a s
o t h e r p i c k s
on t h e
i n s t r u m e n t s t r i n g s
o r
i n s t r u m e n t
s t r a p d u r i n g u s e , s o t h a t t h e u s e r may q u i c k l y add o r s W i t c h
p i c k s a s c o n d i t i o n s o r p r e f e r e n c e s d i c t a t e . While t i s knoWn
t h a t c o n v e n t i o n a l p i c k s
h a v e
b e e n s t o r e d
i n
e n g a g e m e n t W i t h
t h e
s t r i n g s , i t i s a l s o knoWn h a t
t h i s
s t o r a g e
o f
c o n v e n t i o n a l
p i c k s
d i s t o r t s t h e t u n i n g .
T h i s i s
n o t
t h e
c a s e
When
o u r p i c k
i s s t o r e d on t h e s t r i n g s . The ergonomic g r i p
a l l o W s
a more
r e l a x e d , l o W
p r e s s u r e g r i p
W h i c h
g r i p
a v o i d s p h y s i c a l
p r o b l e m s , s u c h a s
c a r p a l
t u n n e l s y n d r o m e , a n d
t e n s i o n
a n d
p a i n
i n
t h e arm
a n d b a c k .
I t h a s a l s o been
f o u n d t o
i m p r o v e
c o n c e n t r a t i o n
o f
t h e u s e r by
a v o i d i n g
t h e d i s t r a c t i o n s
c a u s e d
by
a s l i p p i n g o r
d r o p p e d
p i c k .
B e c a u s e
t h e
p i c k
c a n b e
h e l d
W i t h
a
l i g h t e r
g r i p , t h e
u s e r
W i l l n o t s u f f e r
p i c k
s t r i n g
s h o c k ,
a n d
W e a r i s
s i g n i ? c a n t l y d e c r e a s e d
f o r
l o n g e r p i c k
l i f e
a n d
more c o n s i s t e n t p l a y i n g . As
s t a t e d
e a r l i e r , r e d u c e d d i r e c t
c o n t a c t o f
t h e u s e r s ? n g e r o r thumb W i t h t h e
p i c k
d e c r e a s e s
d a m p e n i n g t o p r o d u c e b e t t e r
s o u n d .
T h e a b i l i t y
t o
e a s i l y
10
1 5
20
25
30
35
40
45
55
60
6 5
8
v a r y t h e amount
o f c o n t a c t
a n d
i t s p o s i t i o n a l l o W s
t h e
p i c k
i t s e l f
t o
b e t i m e d a n d e f f e c t i v e l y become a s e p a r a t e i n s t r u
ment.
While t h e i n v e n t i o n h a s
b e e n d e s c r i b e d W i t h
p a r t i c u l a r
r e f e r e n c e
t o
t h e
c o n s t r u c t i o n shoWn
i n t h e d r a W i n g s a n d
W h i l e
v a r i o u s
c h a n g e s
may
b e
made
n
d e t a i l e d
c o n s t u c t i o n ,
i t
s h a l l
b e
u n d e r s t o o d t h a t
s u c h c h a n g e s
s h a l l
b e
W i t h i n
t h e
s p i r i t
a n d s c o pe o f
t h e p re s e n t i n v e n t i o n a s
de?ned
by t h e
a p p e n d e d
c l a i m s .
From
t h e f o r e g o i n g , i t W i l l b e
o b s e r v e d
t h a t numerous
v a r i a t i o n s
a n d
m o d i ? c a t i o n s may b e e f f e c t e d W i t h o u t d e p a r t
i n g f r o m h e
s p i r i t
a n d s c o p e o f t h e i n v e n t i o n I t i s t o b e
u n d e r s t o o d t h a t no l i m i t a t i o n W i t h
r e s p e c t
t o t h e s p e c i ? c
a p p a r a t u s
i l l u s t r a t e d
h e r e i n i s i n t e n d e d
o r
s h o u l d
be i n f e r r e d .
I t i s , o f c o u r s e , i n t e n d e d t o
c o v e r by t h e appended
c l a i m s
a l l
such modi?cation a s f a l l
W i t h i n
t h e s c o p e o f t h e
c l a i m s .
What i s
c l a i m e d i s :
1 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k d e v i c e f o r p r e s s u r e h o l d i n g b y a
?nger and a
thumb
and f o r u s e W i t h a s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
c o m p r i s i n g :
a ? r s t p o r t i o n o f m a t e r i a l having a n i n n e r s u r f a c e and a n
o u t e r s u r f a c e ;
a s e c o n d p o r t i o n f o r m i n g a ? n g e r g r i p p o r t i o n i n t h e
f o r m
o f
r e l a t i v e l y
t h i n m a t e r i a l e x t e n d i n g o v e r t h e i n n e r
s u r f a c e
o f
s a i d ? r s t p o r t i o n , s a i d s e c o n d p o r t i o n h a v i n g
an i n n e r s u r f a c e and an o u t e r s u r f a c e ;
s a i d s e c o n d p o r t i o n h a v i n g
a
c u r v e d ? n g e r c r a d l e c o n
? g u r a t i o n
on s a i d o u t e r s u r f a c e f o r
s e c u r i n g
e n g a g e
m e n t
W i t h
p r e s s u r e b y t h e ? n g e r a n d t h e t h u m b ;
s a i d
i n n e r su r f a c e
o f
s a i d
s e c o n d p o r t i o n fa c i n g
s a i d i n n e r
s u r f a c e
o f
s a i d
? r s t
p o r t i o n .
2 . An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
f o r a
s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t
a c c o r d i n g
t o c l a i m
1 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d ? n g e r c r a d l e
c o n ? g u r a
t i o n
i s
s h a p e d
t o
r e c e i v e
t h e r e i n
one
o f
t h e
thumb
and
t h e
?nger
o f t h e u s e r
t o h o l d
s a i d d e v i c e .
3 . An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
2 , W h e r e i n
s a i d
? r s t
a n d s e c o n d p o r t i o n s c o m p r i s e a n d a r e i n t e g r a l l y
connected i n an
i n t e r m e d i a t e
a r e a curving more t h a n 1 8 0 .
4 .
An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
3 , W h e r e i n
s a i d
? r s t p o r t i o n i s
i n
t h e
f o r m o f a p l e c t r u m h a v i n g
g e n e r a l l y pl a n a r i n n e r a n d o u t e r s u r f a c e s a n d
a
s u r r o u n d i n g
e d g e
b e t W e e n s a i d s u r f a c e s .
5 . An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
4 , W h e r e i n
s a i d i n n e r s u r f a c e o f s a i d s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
i n t h e a r e a
o f s a i d
c r a d l e
i s a d j a c e n t s a i d
i n n e r
s u r f a c e o f s a i d p l e c t r u m .
6 . An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
3 , W h e r e i n
s a i d ? r s t and second p o r t i o n s and i n t e r m e d i a t e a r e a s a r e
made
o f
r e l a t i v e l y ? a t m a t e r i a l
t h a t
may
e
f o r m e d
a n d
h o l d s
i t s h a p e a f t e r b e i n g f o r m e d .
7 .
An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m
6 , W h e r e i n
s a i d d e v i c e i s
made
by t h e s t e p s o f f o r m i n g s a i d
? r s t
a n d
s e c o n d p o r t i o n s o f
a t h i n
m a t e r i a l , p r o v i d i n g
a c u r v e d ? n g e r
c r a d l e a r e a i n s a i d s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
a n d b e n d i n g s a i d s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
o v e r s a i d ? r s t
p o r t i o n
t h r o u g h a
bend
i n t h e o r d e r o f
1 8 0 .
8 .
An i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 7 , W h e r e i n
s a i d f o r m i n g s t e p i s d i e - c u t t i n g a ? a t m a t e r i a l a n d s a i d
b e n d i n g s t e p i n c l u d e s h e a t t r e a t i n g s a i d
m a t e r i a l .
9 . An i m p r o v e d p i c k d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 6 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d m a t e r i a l
i s f o r m e d b y
s t e p s
i n c l u d i n g p r o g r e s s i v e
d i e
s t a m p i n g .
1 0 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
2 ,
Wherein s a i d
m a t e r i a l i s
a m e t a l .
1 1 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o
c l a i m 2 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d m a t e r i a l i s a p l a s t i c .
1 2 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m
2 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d
d e v i c e
i s
made b y
t h e s t e p s
o f
i n j e c t i o n
-
7/25/2019 U.S. Patent 6,054,643, entitled "Pick With Gripping Means", to inventor Chance of Bigrock, dated April 25, 2000.
14/14
6 , 0 5 4 , 6 4 3
m o l d i n g a p l a s t i c
m a t e r i a l
i n t o a m o l d , a l l o w i n g s a i d m a t e
r i a l t o
c u r e , r e m o v i n g
s a i d d e v i c e
f r o m
s a i d
m o l d ,
a n d
? n i s h i n g
s a i d
d e v i c e .
1 3 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m 1 ,
W h e r e i n i n s i d e
s u r f a c e s
o f s a i d ? r s t p o r t i o n a n d
s a i d
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
c o o p e r a t e
t o
h o l d
a
s e p a r a t e
p l e c t r u m
b y
d i r e c t
c o n t a c t
W i t h o u t s i d e s u r f a c e s o f s a i d p l e c t r u m When i t
i s
b e i n g h e l d t h e r e i n .
1 4 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 3 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d p l e c t r u m
h a s
a n
u p p e r a n d
l o W e r
s u r f a c e ,
s a i d
i n n e r s u rf a c e
o f s a i d
? r s t
p o r t i o n
b e i n g i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t W i t h
s a i d
l o W e r
s u r f a c e
o f
s a i d p l e c t r u m , s a i d i n n e r s u r f a c e
o f
s a i d
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n
b e i n g i n d i r e c t c o n t a c t W i t h
s a i d
u p p e r
s u r f a c e o f
s a i d p l e c t r u m When s a i d p l e c t r u m i s p o s i t i o n e d
t h e r e i n .
1 5 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 3 ,
Wherein s a i d
d e v i c e has
a t a b
t o
engage a
plectrum t o h o l d
s a i d
p l e c t r u m i n
p o s i t i o n .
1 6 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 5 ,
Wherein
s a i d t a b
i s
j o i n e d
t o
s a i d
d e v i c e
a t
a ? r s t
end
and
h a s
a
p l e c t r u m
engaging p o s i t i o n on a second end b e i n g a t
a n
a n g l e
t o a l l o W s a i d
p l e c t r u m
t o
p a s s
i n a ? r s t d i r e c t i o n
b u t
t o r e s i s t
p a s s a g e When
s a i d
p l e c t r u m i s t o
be draWn i n on
o p p o s i t e
s e c o n d d i r e c t i o n .
1 7 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 6 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d
t a b
i s
s e p a r a t e f r o m s a i d
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n .
1 8 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 6 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d t a b d e p e n d s
from
s a i d
s e c o n d p o r t i o n a t
a n
a n g l e
t o W a r d
s a i d
? r s t p o r t i o n .
1 9 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 5 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d
p l e c t r u m a d d i t i o n a l l y c o m p r i s e s a
t a b
e n g a g e
ment a r e a
Wherein
s a i d t a b
engages
s a i d a r e a t o
r e t a i n
s a i d
p l e c t r u m
s e c u r e l y
i n p o s i t i o n .
2 0 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g
t o
c l a i m
1 9 ,
Wherein
s a i d t a b engagement a r e a
i n
s a i d p l e c t r u m
i s
a n
opening
Which
s a i d
t a b
i s r e c e i v e d i n t o
t o
s e c u r e s a i d
p l e c t r u m i n
s a i d d e v i c e .
2 1 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o
c l a i m 2 0 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d ? r s t
p o r t i o n h a s a n
o p e n i n g
a l i g n e d W i t h s a i d
t a b ,
W h e r e b y s a i d t a b
may b e
r e c e i v e d i n
s a i d
? r s t
p o r t i o n
o p e n i n g W h e n
i t
h a s p a s s e d t h r o u g h s a i d p l e c t r u m o p e n i n g .
2 2 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 5 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d t a b h a s s h a r p
p o i n t e d
p o r t i o n s t o e n g a g e s a i d
p l e c t r u m
a n d h o l d
s a i d p l e c t r u m s e c u r e l y a g a i n s t m o v e m e n t .
2 3 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 5 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d t a b i s
r e s i l i e n t l y
b i a s e d
t o W a r d
s a i d ? r s t
p o r t i o n
a n d f o r c i b l y e n g a g e s s a i d
p l e c t r u m
t o s e c u r e s a i d
p l e c t r u m
r e l a t i v e t o
s a i d d e v i c e .
2 4 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 5 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d t a b i s m e c h a n i c a l l y u r g e d i n t o e n g a g e m e n t
W i t h s a i d p l e c t r u m .
2 5 .
An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k d e v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m
1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d d e v i c e h a s
a
l a t e r a l l y
e x t e n d i n g s p a c e b e t W e e n
s a i d ? r s t a n d s e c o n d p o r t i o n s s i Z e d t o l a t e r a l l y a n d
s n u g l y
r e c e i v e
a n
e n l a r g e d
p o r t i o n o f a p l e c t r u m t h e r e i n .
2 6 .
An
i m p r o v e d p i c k
d e v i c e
a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 1 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d d e v i c e h a s
a
l a t e r a l l y e x t e n d i n g
open
s p a c e
betWeen s a i d
? r s t
and second p o r t i o n s t o accommodate a
5
25
35
45
55
1 0
s t r i n g o f s a i d s t r i n g e d i n s t r u m e n t , W h e r e b y s a i d d e v i c e i s
s e c u r e l y
r e t a i n e d
o n s a i d
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t .
2 7 . An
i m p r o v e d
p i c k de v i c e a c c o r d i n g t o c l a i m 2 6 ,
W h e r e i n s a i d
s p a c e
i s g r e a t e r i n s i Z e
t h a n
t h e
d i a m e t e r
o f s a i d
s t r i n g .
2 8 .
A
i c k
h o l d e r
d e v i c e
f o r
p r e s s u r e
h o l d i n g
b y
a
? n g e r
a n d
a
thumb, and f o r
u s e
W i t h
a
s t r i n g e d
i n s t r u m e n t
h a v i n g
a
p l u r a l i t y o f p r e d e t e r m i n e d h o l d e r a t t a c h m e n t
means
t h e r e o n , a n d f u r t h e r
c o m p r i s i n g a r e m o v a b l e
p i c k ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d p i c k
may
b e a t t a c h e d t o a n d o r i e n t e d W i t h s a i d h o l d e r
b y
a user i n
more
than one
Way.
2 9 . A i c k h o l de r d e v i c e a s i n
c l a i m
2 8 , W h e r e i n s a i d
h o l d e r
a t t a c h m e n t means
a r e o p e n i n g s
r e c e i v i n g
a
p o r t i o n
o f
a
pick t h e r e i n
f o r
s e c u r e a t t a c h m e n t .
3 0 . A i c k h o l de r d e v i c e a s i n
c l a i m
2 8 , W h e r e i n s a i d
a t t a c h m e n t means
i n c l u d e
a
s l o t
a n d a
s t r a i g h t
e d g e p o r t i o n
p a r a l l e l
t o s a i d s l o t .
3 1 . An i m p r o v e d p i c k a p p a r a t u s c o m p r i s i n g :
a p i c k h o l d e r h a v i n g a c u r v e d ? n g e r g r i p
p o r t i o n
a n d a
p i c k
s e c u r i n g
t a b ;
a p i ck h a v i n g a p l u r a l i t y o f p r e d e t e r m i n e d h o l d e r
a t t a c h
ment means t h e r e o n t o
p r o v i d e
f o r s a i d
p i c k
t o b e
a t t a c h e d t o and
o r i e n t e d
W i t h s a i d
p i c k
h o l d e r i n a
s e l e c t e d one Way from a p l u r a l i t y
o f
Ways;
s a i d
t a b c o o p e r a t i n g W i t h
s a i d
h o l d e r
a t t a c h m e n t means
on s a i d
p i c k t o s e c u r e
s a i d
p i c k a n d
s a i d
p i c k h o l d e r
t o g e t h e r i n t h e
s e l e c t e d
o n e
W a y .
3 2 . An i m p r o v e d p i c k a p p a r a t u s
a s
i n
c l a i m 3 1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d p i c k h o l d e r c o m p r i s e s
a ? r s t
p o r t i o n o f m a t e r i a l h a v i n g
an i n n e r s u r f a c e and an o u t e r s u r f a c e ;
a s e c o n d p o r t i o n f o r m i n g a ? n g e r g r i p p o r t i o n i n t h e
f o r m
o f
r e l a t i v e l y
t h i n m a t e r i a l e x t e n d i n g o v e r t h e i n n e r
s u r f a c e
o f s a i d ? r s t p o r t i o n , s a i d s e c o n d p o r t i o n h a v i n g
an i n n e r s u r f a c e
and
an o u t e r s u r f a c e ;
s a i d ? r s t a n d s e c o n d
p o r t i o n s b e i n g
j o i n e d b y a n
i n t e r
m e d i a t e p o r t i o n ;
s a i d
s e c o n d
p o r t i o n h a v i n g
a
c u r v e d ? n g e r c r a d l e c o n
? g u r a t i o n on s a i d o u t e r s u r f a c e ;
s a i d i n n e r s u r f a c e o f
s a i d
s e c o n d p o r t i o n fa c i n g
s a i d i n n e r
s u r f a c e
o f
s a i d
? r s t
p o r t i o n .
3 3 . An i m p r o v e d
p i c k a p p a r a t u s
a s
i n c l a i m
3 1 ,
W h e r e i n
s a i d t a b i s
r e s i l i e n t l y
b i a s e d
t o W a r d
s a i d ? r s t
p o r t i o n , s a i d
r e s i l i e n t b i a s h o l d i n g s a i d
t a b
i n c o n t a c t
W i t h
s a i d h o l d e r
attachment means on s a i d p i c k .
3 4 . A
o l d e r a p pa r a t u s f o r
u s e
by
a u s e r ,
t h e
a p p a r a t u s
c o m p r i s i n g :
a
p i c k ;
a
p i c k
h o l d e r h a v i n g a
t a b a d a p t e d
t o
engage and
s e c u r e
t h e p i c k t o
r e t a i n
s a i d p i c k
i n a
?xed p o s i t i o n a l r e l a
t i o n s h i p t o s a i d
p i c k
h o l d e r , s a i d
p i c k
h a v i n g a t a b
e n g a g i n g
p o r t i o n ;
Wherein
s a i d t a b can be s e c u r e d
t o
s a i d p i c k a t any one o f
a p l u r a l i t y
o f v a r i o u s
p l a c e s
o n s a i d p i c k , Whereby
t h e
a t t i t u d e o f t h e
p i c k
t o t h e h o l d e r c a n b e e a s i l y v a r i e d
by
the u s e r .